§ 2-16-408 - Registration of pesticides for local needs.

2-16-408. Registration of pesticides for local needs.

(a) Provided the State Plant Board is certified by the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to register pesticides for those pesticides formulated to meet special local needs, the board shall consider the following for refusal to register, for cancellation, for suspension, or for legal recourse:

(1) (A) If it does not appear to the board that the pesticide is such as to warrant the proposed claims for it or if the pesticide and its labeling and other material required to be submitted do not comply with the provisions of this subchapter or regulations adopted hereunder, it shall notify the applicant of the manner in which the pesticide, labeling, or other material required to be submitted fails to comply with the provisions of this subchapter so as to afford the applicant an opportunity to make the necessary corrections.

(B) If, upon receipt of the notice, the applicant does not make the required changes, the board may refuse to register the pesticide.

(C) The applicant may request a hearing as provided for in the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, 25-15-201 et seq.;

(2) When the board determines that a pesticide or its labeling does not comply with the provisions of this subchapter or the regulations adopted hereunder, it may cancel the registration of a pesticide after a hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, 25-15-201 et seq.;

(3) When the board determines that there is an imminent hazard, it may on its own motion suspend the registration of a pesticide in conformance with the provisions of the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, 25-15-201 et seq. Hearings shall be held with the utmost possible expedition; and

(4) (A) Any person adversely affected by an order in this section may obtain judicial review of the order by filing in the circuit court, within sixty (60) days after the entry of the order, a petition praying that the order be set aside in whole or in part.

(B) A copy of the petition shall be forthwith transmitted by the clerk of the court to the board, and then the board shall file in the court the record of the proceedings on which it based its order.

(C) The court shall have jurisdiction to affirm or set aside the order complained of in whole or in part.

(D) The findings of the board with respect to questions of fact shall be sustained if supported by substantial evidence when considered on the record as a whole.

(E) Upon application, the court may remand the matter to the board to take further testimony if there are reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the prior hearing.

(F) The board may modify its findings and order by reason of the additional evidence so taken and shall file the additional record and any modification of the findings or order with the clerk of the court.

(b) If the board determines that any federally registered pesticide, with respect to its use in this state, requires further restrictions pursuant to 2-16-406(d)(1), it may refuse to register or cancel or suspend the current registration of the pesticide in order to comply with such rules and regulations as may be adopted under 2-16-406.